Computer system for determining a customized animal feed

ABSTRACT

A method and system for creating a customized animal feed is disclosed. The method and system include having ingredient data from more than one location, animal data, and evaluation data. The specifications for a customized feed are generated using ingredient data representative of the mix of ingredients available at one or more locations. A customized feed is generated which is designed to fulfill the nutritional requirements for the animal&#39;s diet. The nutritional requirements are derived from the animal data. Furthermore, the feed is optimized to fulfil the requirements of the evaluation criteria. Evaluation criteria such as (i) animal production rate, (ii) the cost of feed per unit animal weight gain, and (iii) the feed weight per unit animal weight gain, are then utilized together with the feed data and animal data to provide a customized feed which has been generated based upon evaluation data which is representative of one or more of the evaluation criteria.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a computerized system fordetermining a customized feed for animals, such as cattle, swine,poultry, fish, crustaceans and the like. In particular, the systemdetermines a feed mix based upon data relating to information such asanimal characteristics, available ingredients, speed of productproduction, and cost of production.

BACKGROUND

[0002] In food production, and specifically producing animal productssuch as milk, beef, pork, eggs, chicken, fish etc., there is need toimprove production efficiency. Production efficiency, i.e. producing themaximum quantity of animal products while minimizing the time and costof production for those products, is important in maintaining acompetitive advantage.

[0003] A producer (i.e. a farmer, rancher, pork producer, and the like)generally wants to maximize the amount of animal product produced (e.g.gallons of milk, pounds of beef or pork produced) while keeping thecosts associated with feed at a low level in order to achieve maximumanimal productivity. The maximized amount of animal product should beproduced at a minimized cost to the producer. Costs to the producerinclude the cost of feed needed to produce the animal products, as wellas the costs of related equipment and facilities needed in theproduction of animal products. In order to minimize the effect of fixedcosts associated with equipment and facilities, the maximum amount ofanimal product should preferably be produced in a minimum time period.

[0004] Producers are constantly trying to increase these productionefficiencies. One way of increasing production efficiencies is byaltering the feed which animals are fed. For example, a feed withcertain amounts of nutrients can cause an animal to grow or produceanimal products quickly and/or perform better, whereas a different feedwith different amounts of nutrients may cause an animal to grow orproduce animal products on a more cost effective basis.

[0005] Current systems for creating animal feed are not fully capable ofhelping producers evaluate and improve production efficiencies. Currentsystems commonly generate an overall nutrient profile which is relatedto a set of animal characteristics. Such systems then look at theoverall nutrient profile and compare what nutrients may be had from theon-farm ingredients. From this comparison, a “nutritional gap” can becalculated, i.e., the nutritional requirements that the producer needsto fulfill his production goals after accounting for the use of hison-site feed. This nutritional gap is then compared to the nutritionalcomponents which may be available from ingredients located at asupplier's mill. Through a comparison of the nutritional gap and thenutritional components available from the mill, current systems allow asupplier to provide a cost effective custom feed which is optimized topermit an animal to produce desired animal products on a cost minimizedbasis.

[0006] Currently systems exist that are capable of taking the amounts ofon-farm ingredients to be used in the overall diet of the animal intoaccount. This is typically done by accounting for the on-farm componentof the animal's diet as a fixed input parameter in the determination. Itwould be advantageous to be able to modify the amounts of on-farmingredients to be used in forming the custom feed as part of theoptimization process. Moreover, current systems are generally limited togenerating the custom feed based on a single evaluation criteria,typically based on the cost of the feed (e.g., on a cost of feed perunit of animal weight gain basis). It would be advantageous to have asystem which is capable of utilizing more than one evaluation criteriain generating the custom feed.

SUMMARY

[0007] One embodiment of the present invention provides a system fordetermining customized feed for animals, such as farm livestock,poultry, fish and crustaceans. The system stores animal datarepresentative of the characteristics of the animal, feed datarepresentative of the feed ingredients located at one or more locations,and evaluation data representative of at least one evaluation criteria.The evaluation criteria are generally related to factors representativeof animal productivity. Examples of evaluation criteria include (i)animal production rate (e.g., the rate of animal weight gain or the rateof production of a food product such as milk or eggs); (ii) cost of feedper unit animal weight gain; and (iii) feed weight per unit animalweight gain. The system includes a data processing circuit, which may beone or more programmed microprocessors, in communication with a datastorage device or devices which store the data. The data processingcircuit is configured to generate profile data representative of anutrient profile for the animals based upon the animal data. In effect,the nutrient profile is a description of the overall diet to be fed tothe animals defined in terms of a set of nutritional parameters(“nutrients”). Using the profile data, the data processing circuitgenerates ration data representative of a combination of ingredientsfrom one or more locations. The ration data is generated by the dataprocessing circuit based upon the profile data, the feed data and theevaluation data.

[0008] Another embodiment of the system includes processing means forgenerating the profile data representative of a nutrient profile for theanimals based upon the animal data. Using the profile data the dataprocessing means generates ration data representative of a combinationof ingredients from one or more locations. The ration data is generatedby the data processing means based upon the profile data, the feed dataand the evaluation data.

[0009] Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method fordetermining customized feed for one or more animals. The method includesstoring animal data representative of the characteristics of the animal,storing feed data representative of the feed ingredients located a firstlocation (e.g., on farm), storing second feed data representative of thefeed ingredients located at a second location (e.g., at a supplier'smill), and storing evaluation data representative of one or moreevaluation criteria. Profile data representative of a nutrient profilefor the animal is generated based upon the animal data. Using theprofile data, ration data representative of a combination of ingredientsfrom one or more locations is generated based upon the profile data,feed data and evaluation data.

[0010] Another embodiment of the present invention provides customizedfeed produced by a process. The process includes storing animal datarepresentative of the characteristics of the animal, feed datarepresentative of the feed ingredients located a location, storingsecond feed data representative of the feed ingredients located at asecond location, and storing evaluation data representative of at leastone evaluation criteria. Profile data representative of a nutrientprofile for the animal is generated based upon the animal data. Usingthe profile data, ration data representative of a combination ofingredients from the location is generated based further upon feed dataand the evaluation data.

[0011] A further embodiment of the present invention provides a foodproduct produced from an animal fed a customized feed. The food productis produced by a method which includes storing animal datarepresentative of the characteristics of the animal, feed datarepresentative of the feed ingredients located at a location, storingsecond feed data representative of the feed ingredients located at oneor more additional locations, and storing evaluation data representativeof at least one evaluation criteria. Profile data representative of anutrient profile for the animal can be generated based upon the animaldata. Using the profile data, ration data representative of acombination of ingredients from one or more of the locations isgenerated based further upon the feed data and evaluation data. Thecombination of ingredients is fed to the animal and the animal isappropriately processed to produce the desired food (e.g., a foodproduct such as milk or eggs may be recovered from the animal or theanimal may be slaughtered to provide meat for consumption by humansand/or other animals).

[0012] As modifications to the embodiments described herein, systemsand/or methods may rely on more than one optimizing criteria and/or feeddata representative of ingredients located at more than one location.For example, ingredients which could be used to create the ration may belocated at the farm associated with the animals as well as at the millof an ingredient supplier. Depending upon the requirements of thesystem, processing can be consolidated in one processor or dividedbetween processors in communication via a network such as a LAN or theInternet. Furthermore, the processors may be located in devices such asworkstations, portable PC's and/or hand held computers.

[0013] In other variations of the embodiments described herein, thesystems and/or methods may further include a memory portion incommunication with the digital processor which stores variation datarepresentative of a range for one or more nutrients of the nutrientprofile. The digital processor is capable of generating a set of rationdata based upon the variation data. A memory portion of the system maystore variation data which corresponds to preselected incrementalvariations for the values assigned to one or more individual nutrientsin the nutritional profile.

[0014] Throughout this application, the text refers to variousembodiments of the system and/or method. The various embodimentsdescribed are meant to provide a variety of exemplary examples andshould not be construed as descriptions of alternative species.Moreover, it should be noted that the descriptions of the variousembodiments provided herein may be of overlapping scope. The embodimentsdiscussed herein are merely illustrative and are not meant to limit thescope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 is a general schematic representation of the data flow inone embodiment of the present System.

[0016]FIG. 2 is a general schematic representation of the data flow inanother embodiment of the System which is designed to be used togenerate a custom product (“Custom Ration”) and/or feed mix from on-siteingredients (“On-Farm Ration”) optimized for milk production and/orquality.

[0017]FIG. 3 is a general schematic representation of the data flow in avariation of the System shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] An exemplary system, and process which can be used in producing acustomized feed for animals, such as livestock, poultry, fish orcrustaceans is described herein. How the system and process can increaseproduction efficiencies by customizing feed is also disclosed. It isparticularly desirable if the system and methods are capable ofdetermining an optimized feed using one or more evaluation criteria.Examples of suitable evaluation criteria include a feed cost per unitanimal weight gain basis, an animal production rate basis (e.g., basedupon a rate of animal weight gain or a rate of production of an animalproduct, such as milk or eggs), and a feed amount per unit of animalweight gain basis.

[0019] In one embodiment of the present system, a computer system may beused which has a processing unit that executes sequences of instructionscontained in memory. More specifically, execution of the sequences ofinstructions causes the processing unit to perform various operations,which are described herein. The instructions may be loaded into a randomaccess memory (RAM) for execution by the processing unit from aread-only memory (ROM), a mass storage device, or some other persistentstorage. In other embodiments, hardwired circuitry may be used in placeof, or in combination with, software instructions to implement thepresent method. Thus, the embodiments described herein are not limitedto any specific combination of hardware circuitry and/or software, norto any particular source for the instructions executed by the computersystem.

[0020] Creating a customized feed typically involves processing andmanipulating at least four basic data sets (see, e.g., FIG. 1): firstfeed data representative of the collection of ingredients located at afirst location 1, second feed data representative of the collectioningredients located at a second location 2, animal data representativeof characteristics of the animal 3 (e.g., parameters related to itsgenotype, production level, environment and/or feeding regime), andevaluation criteria 4. As will be explained below, very often first andsecond feed data representative of sets of ingredients located at anon-farm site (first ingredients 1 located at a first location) andingredients located at a supplier's mill site (second ingredients 2located at a second location) are used to generate the recommended mixof ingredients to be fed to the animal. In many instances, the rationdata define an overall diet for the animal which includes custom rationsfrom more than one location (e.g., a custom ration from a first location7 and a custom ration from a second location 8 as depicted in FIG. 1).These can be combined to create a customized feed (“ration”) whichfulfills the animal data requirements while meeting the evaluationcriteria 4. The evaluation criteria may be chosen from such suitablecriteria related to animal productivity as (i) animal production rate,(ii) cost of feed per unit animal weight gain, and (iii) feed weight perunit animal weight gain.

[0021] In some modified embodiments, the present system may includeadditional memory portions for storing nutrient level constraints 5and/or ingredient level constraints 6. This may be useful where, forexample, it has been established that higher levels of certainnutritional components could pose a risk to the health of an animalbeing fed the custom feed. For example, if the custom feed includes sometrace minerals, such as selenium, present in too great an amount, thecustom feed may have adverse health consequences to the animal. Variousembodiments of the present invention allow constraints to be placed onthe maximum and/or minimum amounts of one or more nutrients in theprofile data generated. In some embodiments, this may be used togetherwith the animal data as a basis to calculate the profile data. Theseconstraints may be stored in a memory location as part of the system orthe system may permit an individual operator to input one or moreconstraints on the amount of particular nutrient(s) in the profile datagenerated by the system. Similarly, it may be desirable to limit theamounts of one or more ingredients in either a custom product mix or inthe overall diet to be fed to the animal. For example, for ease offormulation of a custom feed in pellet form it may be desirable to limitthe amount of certain ingredients and/or require the inclusion ofminimum amounts of specified ingredients.

[0022] The first data set that is generally input into the system andsubsequently stored in a memory portion includes data representative ofcharacteristics of the animal. Examples of types of data representativeof animal characteristics (“animal data”) include beginning weight ofthe animal; a desired weight of the animal; an environment of theanimal; a feed form; an actual or desired production level of theanimal; and a relationship of animal muscle to fat of the animal. Forexample, the nutrient profile generated for a particular animal can varybased upon a number of different characteristics of the animal relatingto one or more of its genotype, environment, current condition (e.g.,defined in terms of health and/or weight), desired production level,feed form (e.g., meal or pellet), current production level, desiredfinal condition (e.g., defined in terms of final weight and/orrelationship of animal muscle to fat of the animal) and the like. Tables1 and 2 below list illustrative sets of animal characteristics which canbe used as a basis to generate nutritional profiles to be used indesigning custom rations (“custom feeds”) for swine and dairy cattle,respectively. TABLE 1 Animal Characteristics Suitable for Generating aNutritional Profile for a Feed for Swine Animal Category Genotype (leangain) Finisher Effective Ambient Temperature Gilt ReplacementTemperature Grow Draft Prebred Bedding Sow % of pigs that are wet)Gestation Pigs per pen Lactation Pig density (square feet per pig)Artificial Insemination Boar Health Begin Weight Flooring Type EndWeight Total pigs born/litter Feed Disappearance (Intake) Litter weightgain Feed Wastage Total pigs born/litter Feed Form

[0023] TABLE 2 Animal Characteristics Suitable for Generating aNutritional Profile for Dairy Cattle Target Milk Weight (volume) BodyWeight Target Milk Butterfat % Body Weight Change Target Milk Protein %Body Condition Score (current) Current Milk Weight (volume) BodyCondition Score (desired) Current Milk Butterfat % Actual Dry MatterIntake Current Milk Protein % Environmental Temperature Percent of groupin first lactation Environmental Humidity Percent of group in secondlactation Genotype

[0024] The animal data representative of the characteristics of theanimal may be inputted into a computer system with a memory portionavailable and configured to store the data. The animal datarepresentative of the characteristics of the animal may be inputted intothe system by a variety of methods known to those skilled in the artincluding a keyboard, mouse, touchpad, computer, internet or otherrelated device.

[0025] The system includes a data processing circuit which is configuredto generate profile data representative of a nutrient profile for theanimals based upon the animal data. In effect, the nutrient profile is adescription of the overall diet to be fed to the animals defined interms of a set of nutritional parameters (“nutrients”). Depending on thedesired degree of sophistication of the system, the profile data mayinclude a relatively small set of amounts of nutrients or large numberof amounts of nutrients. Table 3 includes an illustrative list ofnutrients that may be used delineating profile data for animals such aspigs and dairy cattle. Of course, the list of nutrients used ingenerating profile data may differ for different types of livestock orother animals. Tables 4 and 5 respectively contain lists of nutrientssuitable for use in generating nutritional profiles for swine and dairycattle, respectively.

[0026] The data processing circuit in the present system is alsoconfigured to generate ration data representative of a combination ofingredients from one or more locations. The ration data is generated bythe data processing circuit based upon the profile data, feed datarepresentative of the feed ingredients available at the location(s) andevaluation data representative of one or more evaluation criteria. TABLE3 Nutrients Suitable for Generating a Nutritional Profile Animal FatRumres Nfc Ascorbic Acid Salt Biotin Selenium Cal/Phos Simple SugarChloride Sodium Choline Sol Rdp Chromium Sulfur Cobalt Sw Obs Me CopperThiamine Arginine (Total and/or Digestible) Total Rdp Cystine (Totaland/or Digestible) Verified Adf Isoleucine (Total and/or Digestible)Verified Ash Leucine (Total and/or Digestible) Verified Calcium Lysine(Total and/or Digestible) Verified Dry Matt Methionine (Total and/orDigestible) Verified Fat Phenylalanine (Total and/or Digestible)Verified Fiber Threonine (Total and/or Digestible) Verified HemiTryptophan (Total and/or Digestible) Verified Moisture Valine (Totaland/or Digestible) Verified Ndf Folic Acid Verified Neg PhosphateVerified Nel Iodine Verified Nem Iron Verified Nfc Lactose Verified PhosLasalocid Verified Protein Magnesium Verified Rup Manganese Vitamin AMonensin Vitamin B12 Niacin Vitamin B6 Potassium Vitamin D ProteinVitamin E Pyridoxine Vitamin K Rh Index Zinc Riboflavin Rough Ndf RumSolsug

[0027] TABLE 4 Nutrients Suitable for Generating a Nutritional Profilefor Swine Biotin True Swine Digestible isoleucine Cal/Phos True SwineDigestible lysine Choline True Swine Digestible methionine Coppr AddTrue Swine Digestible threonine Folic Acid True Swine Digestibletryptophan Iodine Add True Swine Digestible valine Iron Add V CalciumMang Add V Phos Niacin V Protein Pantotnc Vit A Pyridoxine Vit DRiboflavin Vit E Salt Vit K Selenium Add Vitamin B12 Sodium Zinc SwDigphos Thiamine

[0028] TABLE 5 Nutrients Suitable for Generating a Nutritional Profilefor Dairy Cattle Acid Detergent Fiber Non-Protein Nitrogen BiotinPhosphorus Calcium Potassium Chloride Protein Cobalt Rumen DegradableProtein Copper Rumen Undegraded Alanine Dietary Cation Anion DifferenceRumen Undegraded Histidine Digestible Neutral Detergent Fiber RumenUndegraded Isoleucine Dry Matter Rumen Undegraded Leucine Fat RumenUndegraded Lysine Intestinally Digestible Arginine Rumen UndegradedMethionine Intestinally Digestible Histidine Rumen UndegradedPhenylalanine Intestinally Digestible Isoleucine Rumen UndegradedProtein Intestinally Digestible Leucine Rumen Undegraded TryptophanIntestinally Digestible Lysine Rumen Undegraded Valine IntestinallyDigestible Methionine Salt Intestinally Digestible PhenylalanineSelenium Intestinally Digestible Threonine Sodium IntestinallyDigestible Tryptophan Soluble Protein Intestinally Digestible ValineSoluble Sugar Iodine Starch Iron Sulfur Magnesium Verified Net Energyfor Lactation Manganese Vitamin A Neutral Detergent Fiber Vitamin DNeutral Detergent Fiber from Vitamin E Roughage Zinc Niacin Non FiberCarbohydrates

[0029] Evaluation criteria are typically related to factorsrepresentative of animal productivity and reflect an aspect ofproduction a producer would like to optimize. The present system allowsa producer to select evaluation criteria (e.g. cost/gain, cost/output,animal production rate, and/or feed/gain) which fits the producer'sproduction goals. For example, a dairy producer may focus on the cost offeed required to produce a unit of output (cost/output), whereas a porkproducer may focus on cost/gain or rate of gain.

[0030] Examples of suitable animal production criteria which may be usedas evaluation criteria in the generation of ration data include (i)animal production rate, (ii) the cost of feed per unit animal weightgain, and (iii) the feed weight per unit animal weight gain. The animalproduction rate may simply be a measure representative of the rate ofweight gain of the animal in question (rate of gain). For example, apork producer may wish to optimize rate of gain by selecting a feedwhich maximizes the rate at which a pig gains weight. This could beselected if a pig farmer was interested in turning over production asquickly as possible in a fixed asset which has limited space. Theevaluation data may include data representative of the cost of feedrequired to produce a unit of weight gain of the animal (“cost/gain”basis). For example, a pork producer may wish to optimize cost/gain byselecting a feed which minimizes the feed cost required to make a piggain a unit of weight. The evaluation data can include datarepresentative of the amount of feed required to produce a unit of gain(feed/gain). For example, a producer may wish to optimize the feed/gainby selecting a feed which minimizes the amount of feed required toproduce a unit of gain. A producer might select this criterion if theywere faced with feed storage space constraints.

[0031] Examples of other suitable animal production rates which may beused as an evaluation criteria include rates of production of foodproducts, such as milk or eggs, from the animal. Other suitableevaluation criteria include the cost of feed required to produce a unitof output of a particular animal product (“cost/output”). For example, amilk producer may wish to optimize the cost/output by selecting a feedwhich minimizes the cost of feed required to produce a unit of milk. Inaddition to utilizing evaluation data representative of only a singleevaluation criteria, the present system may be capable of usingevaluation data representative of a combination of two or moreevaluation criteria in generating the ration data. For example, whenconsidering an appropriate feed, a producer may wish to generate acustom feed based on the rate of production as well as cost of the feed(typically on a cost/gain basis).

[0032] Furthermore, the producer may choose to weight the relativecontributions of two or more evaluation criteria. The system may includea data processing circuit which generates ration data based in part upona weighted average of more than one evaluation criteria. In one specificembodiment, the system generates ration data based in part upon a 70:30weighted average of two evaluation criteria (primary and secondary),such as a combination of cost of feed per unit animal weight gain andanimal production rate. The system may also allow a user to alter therelative weighting accorded to the various evaluation criteria selected.

[0033] For instance, in the example referred to above, the producer maywant to generate ration data using a combination of evaluation criteriathat is weighted 70% on a cost/gain basis and 30% on a rate of animalweight gain basis. One method for providing such a weighted optimizationanalysis is to generate one solution for ration data using cost/gain asthe sole evaluation criteria and generating a second for ration datausing rate of animal weight gain as the sole evaluation criteria. Rationdata which is representative of the weighted combined solution can beachieved by summing 70% of the amounts of ingredients from the cost/gainration data set and 30% of the amounts of ingredients from the rate ofgain ration data set. For example, in the instance where cost/gainration data (generated solely on a cost/gain basis) includes 10%dehulled corn meal, and rate of gain ration data (generated solely on arate of gain basis) includes 15% dehulled corn meal, if a producer chosecost/gain as the primary evaluation criteria the ingredient mix in thediet will include roughly 70% of the 10% dehulled corn meal requirement,and 30% of the 15% dehulled corn meal requirement summed to produce theamount of dehulled corn meal in the overall diet (i.e., circa 11.5%dehulled corn meal). This weighted summation is then repeated for allthe amounts of ingredients present in the two custom diets generated bythe two approaches. As one skilled in the art will recognize, there areother methods of generating ration data based on a weighted combinationof evaluation criteria. The present system can also be configured togenerate ration data based on other weightings of combinations of two ormore evaluation criteria (e.g., two evaluation criteria weighted oneither a 60:40 or 80:20 basis). In some embodiments of the presentsystem, the weighting factors assigned to various evaluation criteriacan themselves be input parameter(s) chosen by a producer to reflect theneeds of his/her particular situation.

[0034]FIG. 2 depicts the general flow of data in one embodiment of thepresent system. The system shown in FIG. 2 includes a data processingcircuit 30 configured to generate a nutrient profile 32 based on theanimal data 31 and optional adjustments which may be provided by anutritionist. Other data processing circuits generate lists of nutrientamounts associated with individual ingredients available at an on-farmsite 33 and manufacturing site 34. A data processing circuit 36, whichincludes a linear program generates a custom product based on evaluationcriteria 35. The linear program typically also generates the customproduct solution based on pricing data associated with both the on-farmand manufacturing site ingredients. In one embodiment, retail andwholesale pricing information may be normalized to allow the linearprogram to facilitate consideration of potential ingredients withdifferent types of associated prices as the basis for a solution to asingle multivariable problem. The linear program is a mathematical modelcapable of solving problems involving a large number of variableslimited by constraints using linear math functions. A variety ofdifferent linear programs capable of solving problems of this type areknown to those of skill in the art. One example of a program of thistype is commercially available from Format International as part ofcomputer software system for solving complicated multivariable problems.

[0035] Memory portions of the systems which store animal data,evaluation data, and feed data representative of on-hand ingredientsand/or mill ingredients are in communication with a data processing unitcapable of generating ration data. The data processing unit can includea data processing circuit or a digital processing circuit. The memoryportions which store the animal data, feed data for on-hand and millingredients, and evaluation data may be in communication with the dataprocessing unit by inputted keyboard commands, mouse commands, a networkconnection with another computer, personal data assistants, via a modemconnection, via an internet, or via an intranet.

[0036] Data processing circuit(s) which include the linear program cantake input data (e.g., profile data, feed data, evaluation data andingredient constraint data) as a basis to compute ration data. Rationdata includes data specifying a combination of ingredients solutionwhich is solved to fulfill a desired nutrient profile based on one ormore evaluation criteria. Ration data generated by the present systemgenerally includes data representative of the types and amounts ofingredients to be used to provide an overall custom diet for an animal.The ration data provided by the system generally also specifies asolution that is described in terms of a combination of types andamounts of ingredients from a first location (e.g., an on-farm location)and types and amounts of ingredients from at least one additional site(e.g., one or more supplier locations). Where the overall set ofpotential ingredients includes ingredients located at more than onelocation, the custom feed specified by the ration data may be made ofingredients located at either a single location or from more than onelocation. For example, the ration data may define a custom feed made upfrom ingredients located solely at supplier location or made up fromingredients located at both an on-farm location and a supplier location.

[0037] The ration data generally include custom feed data representativeof a combination of amounts of the feed ingredients. The custom feeddata may specify the type and corresponding amounts of the ingredientsto be used in formulating the overall diet of an animal. This may bemade up from a set of ingredients available at more than one location,e.g., from ingredients available at a producer's site and as well asingredients available at a supplier location. The present system mayalso provide custom feed data which specifies the types and amounts ofingredients to be used from individual locations. For example, thecustom feed data may include a listing of the types and amounts ofingredients available at a first location (e.g., on-farm ingredients) tobe used to form a first feed mix and a listing of the types and amountsof ingredients available at a second location (e.g., ingredientsavailable at a supplier location) to be used to form a second feed mix.In such instances, the custom feed data will typically also specify theamounts of the first and second feed mixes that are to be used to makeup the overall custom diet for an animal.

[0038] The ration data typically includes amounts of a variety of typesof ingredients. The actual ingredients available at any particularlocation can vary over time and will generally vary on a regional basisas well as reflect the type of animal feed that is typically producedand/or stored at the particular site. Commonly, the ration data includefeed data representative of amounts of ingredients from a number ofdifferent ingredient categories, such as a grain source, a proteinsource, a vitamin source, a mineral source (e.g., a macromineral sourceand/or a trace mineral source) and/or a fat source. Table 6 includes alist of exemplary ingredients suitable for use in formulating customfeed mixes for a variety of animals. Tables 7, 8 and 9 include lists ofingredients which may be used in generating custom feed products forswine or dairy cattle. TABLE 7 Ingredients Suitable for Use in Producinga Custom Feed for a Finishing Diet for Swine Alimet Linseed Meal BakeryProduct L-Lysine HCl Beet Pulp Lt. Barley Brewers Rice L-Threonine BrownSugar Malt Sprouts Calcium Carb Meat And Bone Meal Cane Sugar MenhadenFish Canola Meal Molasses Cereal Fines Mono-Dical Phos Cg Feed MonosodPhos Choline Oat Mill Byproducts Copper Sulfate Oat Mill ByproductsCorn-Ground Fine Oats-Ground Corn Gluten Meal Oats-Rolled Corn Oil PorkBloodmeal Corn Starch Safflower Meal Dehydrated Alfalfa Salt DistillersGrains With Soil Selenium Dried Potato Waste Soybean Hulls DynasolSoybean Meal Fat Soybean Oil Fat Sprayed Sunflower Feather MealTryptosin Feeding Rate Wheat Midds Fish Meal

[0039] TABLE 8 Ingredients Suitable for Use in Producing a Custom Feedfor Breeding Swine Alimet Methionine Animal Fat Mineral Oil Ascorb AcidMolasses-Cane Bakery Product Mono-Dicalcium Phosphate Bentonite OatHulls Blood Meal-Beef/Pork Red Flavor Calcium Carbonate Rice Bran CerealFines Salt Choline Chloride Selenium Copper Sulfate Soybean Hulls CornGerm Meal Threonine Corn Gluten Feed Tryptophan Distillers Grains WithSolubles Vitamin B Dry Methionine Hydroxy Analog Wheat Midds Fish MealWheat Starch Malt Sprouts Zinc Oxide Meat And Bone Meal; Pork CarcassZinc Sulfate

[0040] TABLE 9 Ingredients Suitable for Producing a Custom Feed forDairy Cattle Calcium Carbonate Salt Copper Sulfate Selenium Corn GlutenMeal Sodium Sesquicarbonate Fat Soybean Hulls Magnesium Oxide SoybeanMeal Meat And Bone Meal, Pork Trace Minerals Mono-Dical Phos Urea NiacinVitamin-E Pork Blood Meal Wheat Midds K/Mg/Sulfate Zin-Pro Yeast

[0041] When feeding animals, producers may not be able to satisfynutritional requirements of the animals solely using on-hand ingredients(e.g., on-farm ingredients). To satisfy the animal's nutritionalrequirements, producers may desire to use on-hand ingredients inconjunction with a custom feed product made up of feed ingredientsavailable from an outside supplier, such as a mill, feed mixer, and thelike. The outside supplier will commonly have a range of ingredientsavailable or on hand in their inventory (e.g., corn in various forms,soybean meal, wheat mids, barley, oats, animal fat, various vitaminsupplements).

[0042] In addition to data specifying the types and amounts ofingredients to be used to provide the overall custom diet for an animal,the ration data generated by the present system can also include otherdata associated with the overall custom diet. Examples of such otherdata include cost data representative of a cost associated with thecustom feed data, feed weight data representative of a feed weightassociated with the custom feed data, and performance datarepresentative of projected animal performance associated with thecustom feed data. For example, Table 10 below lists a number ofcategories of ration data that may be useful in assisting a producerand/or supplier in evaluating a custom feed with respect toproductivity, animal performance and cost effectiveness. Theavailability of these types of information can provide a producer and/orsupplier with additional information concerning the effects ofvariations in dietary composition on factors such as cost, volume offeed, wastage and animal performance. As with the listing(s) of thetypes and amounts of ingredients, the cost data and feed weight data canbe representative of costs and feed weights associated with the overallcustom diet and/or with feed mix(es) to be provided from individuallocations. TABLE 10 Illustrative Categories of Ration Data Associatedwith a Custom Feed for Swine End Weight Lean Gain Days in Phase Lean %Avg Daily Gain Effective Ambient Temp Avg Daily Feed Intake Cost of GainTotal Feed Consumed Total Cost per phase Feed/Gain

[0043] In other variations of the embodiments described herein, thesystems and/or methods may also include a memory portion incommunication with the digital processor which stores variation datarepresentative of a range for one or more nutrient components of thenutrient profile. The digital processor is capable of generating a setof ration data based upon the variation data. The memory portion maystore variation data which correspond to preselected incrementalvariations for the values assigned to one or more individual nutrientsin the nutritional profile. For example, memory portion may storevariation data which correspond to preselected incremental positive andnegative variations of the values assigned to two individual nutrients,such as true digestible lysine and net energy. The digital processorwould generate ration data corresponding to each of the eight possibleadditional combinations of values for the two specified nutrients.Together with the ration data associated with the original nutritionalprofile, the resulting set of nine ration data corresponding to thevarious combinations of values for each specified nutrient (originalvalue, original value plus an increment; original value minus anincrement) would make up a three by three matrix of ration data. Oneexample of this approach is illustrated in Table 11 below. A generalapproach to generating a set of ration data based upon variation data isdepicted schematically in FIG. 3. The determination of ration data forthe center point in the matrix (“Ration Data 5”) corresponds to thesolution generated by the data processing circuit based on the nutrientprofile. In the example shown in Table 11, the nutrient profile hasvalues of 0.90% for true digestible lysine and 2150 kcal/kg for netenergy. Each of the eight other ration data in the set depicted in Table11 corresponds to a ration data generated for a modified nutrientprofile in which the value for at least one nutrient has been varied bya specified increment. For example, Ration Data 1 represents ration dataassociated with a modified nutrient profile has values of 0.95% for truedigestible lysine and 2100 kcal/kg for net energy. Ration Data 6represents ration data associated with a modified nutrient profile inwhich only the value for true digestible lysine (0.85%) has been variedfrom the values in the nutrient profile. The generation of such a matrixcan facilitate an evaluation of the effect of incremental variations inamounts of specified nutrient(s) on the assessment of optimum rationdata for a given evaluation criteria TABLE 11 True Digestible Lysine0.95% 0.90% 0.85% Net 2100 Ration Data 1 Ration Data 2 Ration Data 3Energy 2150 Ration Data 4 Ration Data 5 Ration Data 6 (kcal/kg) 2200Ration Data 7 Ration Data 8 Ration Data 9

[0044] The invention has been described with reference to variousspecific and illustrative embodiments and techniques. However, it shouldbe understood that many variations and modifications may be made whileremaining within the spirit and scope of the invention. TABLE 6Exemplary Ingredients Suitable for Use in Formulating Custom Feed MixesAcidulated Soap Stocks Beef Peanut Meal Citrus Pulp Active Dry YeastBeet Clopidol Alfalfa Meal Beet Pulp Cobalt Alfalfa-Dehydrated BiotinCobalt Carbonate Alimet Biscuit By Product Cobalt Sulfate Alka CultureBlack Beans Cocoa Cake Alkaten Blood-Flash Dry Cocoa Hulls Almond HullsBlueprint Rx Copper Oxide Ammonium Chloride Bone Meal Copper SulfateAmmonium Lignin Brewers Rice Corn Chips Ammonium Brix Cane Corn ChopsPolyphosphate Buckwheat Corn Coarse Cracked Ammonium Sulfate BugsCorn-Coarse Ground Amprol Cage Calcium Corn Cob-Ground Amprol EthopabaCalcium Cake Corn Distillers Anhydrous Ammonia Calcium Chloride CornFlint Appetein Calcium Formate Corn Flour Apramycin Calcium Iodate CornGerm Bran Arsanilic Acid Calcium Sulfate Corn Germ Meal Ascorb AcidCalcium Prop Corn Gluten Aspen Bedding Calf Manna Corn-High Oil AvailaCanadian Peas Corn Kiblets Avizyme Cane-Whey Corn Meal DehulledBacitracin Zinc Canola Cake Corn Oil Bakery Product Canola Fines CornResidue Barley Canola Meal Corn Starch Barley-Crimped Canola OilCorn/Sugar Blend Barley-Ground Canola Oil Blender Corn-CrackedBarley-Hulless Canola Oil Mix Corn-Crimped Barley-Hulls CanolaScreenings Corn-Ground Fine Barley-Midds Canola-Whole Corn-GroundRoasted Barley-Needles Carbadox Corn-Steam Flaked Barley-Rolled CarobGerm Corn-Steamed Barley-St. Bon. Carob Meal Corn-Whole Barley-WholeCashew Nut By Product Cottonseed Culled Barley-With Enzyme Catfish OffalMeal Cottonseed Hull Baymag Choline Chloride Cottonseed Meal Beef PeanutHulls Chromium Tripicolinate Cottonseed Oil Cottonseed Whole Green DyeMilo-Cracked Coumaphos Green Flavor Milo-Whole Culled Beans Guar GumMineral Flavor Danish Fishmeal Hard Shell Mineral Oil DecoquinateHemicellulose Extract Mixed Blood Meal Dextrose Hemp Molasses Diamond VYeast Herring Meal Molasses Blend Disodium Phosphate Hominy MolassesDried Distillers Grains Hygromycin Molasses Standard Beet Dried ApplePomace Indian Soybean Meal Molasses Standard Cane Dried Brewers YeastIron Oxide-Red Molasses-Pellet Dried Distillers Milo Iron-Oxide YellowMold Dried Porcine Job's Tear Broken Seeds Monensin Dried Whole MilkKapok Seed Meal Monoamonum Phos Powder Kelp Meal Monosodium GlutamateDuralass Kem Wet Monosodium Phosphate Enzyme Booster Lactose Mung BeanHulls Epsom Salts Larvadex Mustard Meal High Fat Erythromycin LasalocidMustard Oil Extruded Grain Levams Hcl Mustard Shorts Extruded Soy FlourLimestone Narasin Fat Linco Natuphos Feather Meal Lincomix NiacinFeeding Oatmeal Lincomycin Nicarbazin Fenbendazole Linseed MealNitarsone Fermacto Liquid Fish Solubles Oat Cullets Ferric ChlorideLupins Oat Flour Ferrou Cabonate Lysine Oat Groats Ferrous CarbonateMagnesium Oat Hulls Ferrous Sulfate Magnesium Sulfate Oat MillByproducts Fine Job's Tear Bran Malt Plant By-Products Oat ScreeningsFish Meal Manganous Ox Oat Whole Cereal Fish Maple Flavor Oatmill FeedFlavoring Masonex Oats Flaked Folic Acid Meat And Bone Meal Oats-GroundFrench Fry Rejects Meat And Bone Meal Oats-Hulless Fresh Arome Meat MealOats-Premium Fried Wheat Noodles Mepron Oats-Rolled Gold Dye MethionineOats-Whole Gold Flavor Millet Screenings Oyster Shell Grain Dust MilletWhite Paddy Rice Grain Screening Millet-Ground Palm Kernel Granite GritMilo Binder Papain Grape Pomace Milo-Coarse Ground Papain Enzyme PaprikaSpent Meal Rice Bran Soybean Mill Run Parboiled Broken Rice RiceBy-Products Soybean Oil Pea By-Product Fractions Soybean Residue PeaFlour Rice Dust Soybeans Extruded Peanut Meal Rice GroundSoybeans-Roasted Peanut Skins Rice Hulls Soycorn Extruded PelcoteDusting Rice Mill By-Product Spray Dried Egg Phosphate Rice RejectsGround Standard Micro Premix Phosphoric Acid Roxarsone Starch MolassesPhosphorus Rumen Paunch Steam Flaked Corn Phosphorus Rumensin SteamFlaked Wheat Defluorinated Rye Sugar (Cane) Pig Nectar Rye DistillersSulfamex-Ormeto Plant Waste Rye With Enzymes Sulfur Poloxalene SafflowerMeal Sulfur Popcorn Safflower Oil Sunflower Meal Popcorn ScreeningsSafflower Seed Sunflower Seed Porcine Plasma; Dried Sago Meal TallowFancy Pork Bloodmeal Salinomycin Tallow-Die Porzyme Salt Tallow-MixerPosistac Scallop Meal Tapioca Meal Potassium Bicarbonate Seaweed MealTapioca Promeance Potassium Carbonate Selenium Taurine PotassiumMagnesium Shell Aid Terramycin Sulfate Shrimp Byproduct ThiabenzolPotassium Sulfate Silkworms Thiamine Mono Potato Chips SipernateThreonine Poultry Blood/Feather Sodium Acetate Tiamulin Meal SodiumBenzoate Tilmicosin Poultry Blood Meal Sodium Bicarbonate Tomato PomacePoultry Byproduct Sodium Molybdate Trace Min Predispersed Clay SodiumSesquicarbonate Tricalcium Phosphate Probios Sodium Sulfate TriticaleProcain Penicillin Solulac Tryptophan Propionic Acid Soweena TryptosinePropylene Glycol Soy Flour Tuna Offal Meal Pyran Tart Soy Pass TylanPyridoxine Soy Protein Concentrate Tylosin Quest Anise Soybean Cake UreaRabon Soybean Curd By- Vegetable Oil Blend Rapeseed Meal ProductVirginiamycin Red Flavor Soybean Dehulled Milk Vitamin A Red MilletBy-Product Vitamin B Complex Riboflavin Soybean Hulls Vitamin B12Vitamin D3 Vitamin B Walnut Meal Wheat Bran Wheat Coarse Ground WheatGerm Meal Wheat Gluten Wheat Meal Shredded Wheat Millrun Wheat Mix WheatNoodles Low Fat Wheat Red Dog Wheat Starch Wheat Straw Wheat With EnzymeWheat-Ground Wheat-Rolled Wheat-Whole Whey Dried Whey Permeate WheyProtein Concentrate Whey-Product Dried Yeast Brewer Dried Yeast SugarCane Zinc Zinc Oxide Zoalene

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for determining customized feed for atleast one animal, the system comprising: a first memory portionconfigured to store animal data representative of the characteristics ofthe animal; a second memory portion configured to store first feed datarepresentative of the feed ingredients located at a first location; athird memory portion configured to store second feed data representativeof the feed ingredients located at a second location; a fourth memoryportion configured to store evaluation data representative of at leastone evaluation criteria; and a data processing circuit in communicationwith the memory portions and configured to generate profile datarepresentative of a nutrient profile for the animal based upon theanimal data, the data processing circuit being further configured togenerate ration data representative of a combination of ingredients fromthe first and second locations, the ration data being generated by thedata processing circuit based upon the profile data, the first andsecond feed data and the evaluation data.
 2. The system of claim 1,wherein the animal data is representative of at least one of a beginningweight of the animal; a desired weight of the animal; an environment ofthe animal; a feed form; an actual or desired production level of theanimal; and a relationship of animal muscle to fat of the animal.
 3. Thesystem of claim 2, wherein the feed ingredients include at least one ofa grain source, a protein source, a vitamin source, a mineral source anda fat source.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the evaluation criteriainclude at least one of (i) animal production rate, (ii) the cost offeed per unit animal weight gain, and (iii) the feed weight per unitanimal weight gain.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the evaluationdata is representative of at least two evaluation criteria.
 6. Thesystem of claim 5, wherein the evaluation criteria include at least twoof (i) animal production rate, (ii) the cost of feed per unit animalweight gain, and (iii) the feed weight per unit animal weight gain. 7.The system of claim 6, wherein the animal data is representative of atleast one of a beginning weight of the animal; a desired weight of theanimal; an environment of the animal; a feed form; an actual or desiredproduction level of the animal; and a relationship of animal muscle tofat of the animal.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the feedingredients include at least one of a grain source, a protein source, avitamin source, a mineral source and a fat source.
 9. The system ofclaim 5, further comprising a fifth memory portion in communication withthe data processing circuit, the fifth memory portion being configuredto store optimization weighting data representative of the affect arespective evaluation criteria has on the generation of the ration data,the data processing circuit further generating the ration data basedupon the optimization weighting data.
 10. The system of claim 9, whereinthe optimization weighting data may be selected to cause one of theevaluation criteria to have no affect on the generation of the rationdata.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory portions areportions of a digital memory and a parallel data bus is coupled betweenthe digital memory and the data processing circuit to facilitatecommunication therebetween.
 12. The system of claim 1, wherein thememory portions are portions of a plurality of digital memories and anetwork couples the digital memories to the data processing circuit tofacilitate communication therebetween.
 13. The system of claim 1,wherein the ration data at least further includes at data representativeof (i) animal production rate, (ii) the cost of feed per unit animalweight gain, and (iii) the feed weight per unit animal weight gain. 14.The system of claim 13, wherein the nutrient profile data isrepresentative of at least two nutrient components, and the systemfurther includes a sixth memory portion in communication with thedigital processor, the sixth memory portion storing variation datarepresentative of a range for the nutrient components of the nutrientprofile and the digital processor generates a set of ration data basedupon the variation data.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein thenutrient components include at least true digestible lysine and netenergy.
 16. A system for determining customized feed for at least oneanimal, the system comprising: a first memory portion configured tostore animal data representative of the characteristics of the animal; asecond memory portion configured to store feed data representative ofthe feed ingredients located at at least one location; a third memoryportion configured to store evaluation data representative of at leasttwo evaluation criteria; and a data processing circuit in communicationwith the memory portions and configured to generate profile datarepresentative of a nutrient profile for the animal based upon theanimal data, the data processing circuit being further configured togenerate ration data representative of a combination of ingredients fromthe location, the ration data being generated by the data processingcircuit based upon the profile data, the feed data and the evaluationdata.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the animal data isrepresentative of at least one of a beginning weight of the animal; adesired weight of the animal; an environment of the animal; a feed form;an actual or desired production level of the animal; and a relationshipof animal muscle to fat of the animal; and the feed ingredients includeat least one of a grain source, a protein source, a vitamin source, amineral source and a fat source.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein theevaluation criteria include at least two of (i) animal production rate,(ii) cost of feed per unit animal weight gain, and (iii) feed weight perunit animal weight gain.
 19. The system of claim 16, further comprisinga forth memory portion in communication with the data processingcircuit, the forth memory portion being configured to store optimizationweighting data representative of the affect a respective evaluationcriteria has on the generation of the ration data, the data processingcircuit further generating the ration data based upon the optimizationweighting data.
 20. The system of claim 9, wherein the optimizationweighting data may be selected to cause one of the evaluation criteriato have no affect on the generation of the ration data.
 21. The systemof claim 16, wherein the ration data further includes at datarepresentative of at least one of (i) animal production rate, (ii) thecost of feed per unit animal weight gain, and (iii) the feed weight perunit animal weight gain.
 22. The system of claim 21, wherein thenutrient profile data is representative of at least two nutrientcomponents, and the system further includes a fifth memory portion incommunication with the digital processor, the fifth memory portionstoring variation data representative of a range for at least onenutrient component of the nutrient profile and the digital processorgenerates a set of ration data based upon the variation data.
 23. Thesystem of claim 22, wherein the nutrient components include at leasttrue digestible lysine and net energy.
 24. A system for determiningcustomized feed for at least one animal, the system comprising: firstmemory means for storing animal data representative of thecharacteristics of the animal; second memory means for storing firstfeed data representative of the feed ingredients located at a firstlocation; third memory means for storing second feed data representativeof the feed ingredients located at a second location; fourth memorymeans for storing evaluation data representative of at least oneevaluation criteria; and processing means for generating profile datarepresentative of a nutrient profile for the animal based upon theanimal data, the processing means generating ration data representativeof a combination of ingredients from the first and second locations, theration data being generated by the processing means based upon theprofile data, the first and second feed data and the evaluation data.25. The system of claim 24, wherein the animal data is representative ofat least one of a beginning weight of the animal; a desired weight ofthe animal; an environment of the animal; a feed form; an actual ordesired production level of the animal; and a relationship of animalmuscle to fat of the animal; the feed ingredients include at least oneof a grain source, a protein source, a vitamin source, a mineral sourceand a fat source. ; and the evaluation criteria include at least one of(i) animal production rate, (ii) the cost of feed per unit animal weightgain, and (iii) the feed weight per unit animal weight gain.
 26. Thesystem of claim 24, wherein the evaluation criteria include at least twoof a rate of (i) animal production rate, (ii) the cost of feed per unitanimal weight gain, and (iii) the feed weight per unit animal weightgain.
 27. The system of claim 25, wherein the feed ingredients includeat least one of a grain source, a protein source, a vitamin source, amineral source and a fat source.
 28. The system of claim 24, wherein theration data further includes at data representative of at least (i)animal production rate, (ii) the cost of feed per unit animal weightgain, and (iii) the feed weight per unit animal weight gain.
 29. Thesystem of claim 28, wherein the nutrient profile data is representativeof at least two nutrient components, and the system further includesfifth memory means for storing variation data representative of a rangefor at least one nutrient component of the nutrient profile and theprocessor means generating a set of ration data based upon the variationdata.
 30. A system for determining customized feed for at least oneanimal, the system comprising: first memory means for storing animaldata representative of the characteristics of the animal; second memorymeans for storing feed data representative of the feed ingredientslocated at at least one location; third memory for storing evaluationdata representative of at least two evaluation criteria; and processingmeans for generating profile data representative of a nutrient profilefor the animal based upon the animal data, processing means furthergenerating ration data representative of a combination of ingredientsfrom the location, the ration data being generated by the processingmeans based upon the profile data, the feed data and the evaluationdata.
 31. The system of claim 30, wherein the animal data isrepresentative of at least one of a beginning weight of the animal; adesired weight of the animal; an environment of the animal; a feed form;an actual or desired production level of the animal; and a relationshipof animal muscle to fat of the animal; and the feed ingredients includeat least one a grain source, a protein source, a vitamin source, amineral source and a fat source.
 32. The system of claim 31, wherein theevaluation criteria include at least two of (i) animal production rate,(ii) the cost of feed per unit animal weight gain, and (iii) the feedweight per unit animal weight gain.
 33. The system of claim 30, furthercomprising forth memory means for storing optimization weighting datarepresentative of the affect a respective evaluation criteria has on thegeneration of the ration data, the processing means further generatingthe ration data based upon the optimization weighting data.
 34. Thesystem of claim 31, wherein the ration data further includes diet (i)animal production rate, (ii) the cost of feed per unit animal weightgain, and (iii) the feed weight per unit animal weight gain.
 35. Thesystem of claim 31, wherein the nutrient profile data is representativeof at least two nutrient components, and the system further includes afifth memory means for storing variation data representative of a rangefor at least one nutrient component of the nutrient profile; and theprocessing means generates a set of ration data based upon the variationdata.
 36. A method for determining customized feed for at least oneanimal, the method comprising: storing animal data representative of thecharacteristics of the animal; storing first feed data representative ofthe feed ingredients located at a first location; storing second feeddata representative of the feed ingredients located at a secondlocation; storing evaluation data representative of at least oneevaluation criteria; generating profile data representative of anutrient profile for the animal based upon the animal data; andgenerating first ration data representative of a combination ofingredients from the first location, second ration data representativeof a combination of ingredients from the second locations, the rationdata being generated based upon the profile data, the first and secondfeed data and the evaluation data.
 37. The method of claim 36, , whereinthe nutrient profile data is representative of at least two nutrientcomponents, the method further comprising the step of generating a setof ration data based upon variation data representative of a range forat least one nutrient component of the nutrient profile.
 38. A methodfor determining customized feed for at least one animal, the methodcomprising: storing animal data representative of the characteristics ofthe animal; storing feed data representative of the feed ingredientslocated at at least one location; storing evaluation data representativeof at least two evaluation criteria; generating profile datarepresentative of a nutrient profile for the animal based upon theanimal data; and generating ration data representative of a combinationof ingredients from the location, the ration data being generated basedupon the profile data, the feed data and the evaluation data.
 39. Themethod of claim 38, wherein the nutrient profile data is representativeof at least two nutrient components of the nutrient profile, and themethod generates a set of ration data based upon variation datarepresentative of a range for at least one nutrient component.
 40. Acustomized feed for an animal, the feed produced by a processcomprising: storing animal data representative of the characteristics ofthe animal; storing first feed data representative of the feedingredients located at a first location; storing second feed datarepresentative of the feed ingredients located at a second location;storing evaluation data representative of at least one evaluationcriteria; generating profile data representative of a nutrient profilefor the animal based upon the animal data; and generating first rationdata representative of a combination of ingredients from the first andsecond ration data representative of a combination of ingredients fromthe first second locations, the ration data being generated based uponthe profile data, the first and second feed data and the evaluationdata.
 41. The process of claim 40, wherein the nutrient profile data isrepresentative of at least two nutrient components, the process furthercomprising the step of generating a set of ration data based uponvariation data representative of a range for the nutrient components ofthe nutrient profile.
 42. The process of claim 40 further comprisingmixing the combination of ingredients and feeding the feed to thelivestock.
 43. A customized feed for livestock, the feed produced by aprocess comprising: storing animal data representative of thecharacteristics of the animal; storing feed data representative of thefeed ingredients located in at least one location; storing evaluationdata representative of at least two evaluation criteria; generatingprofile data representative of a nutrient profile for the animal basedupon the animal data; and generating ration data representative of acombination of the feed ingredients, the ration data being generatedbased upon the profile data, the feed data and the evaluation data. 44.The feed of claim 43, wherein the nutrient profile data isrepresentative of at least two nutrient components; and the processfurther comprises the step of generating a set of ration data based uponvariation data representative of a range for the nutrient components ofthe nutrient profile.
 45. The feed of claim 43 further comprising mixingthe combination of ingredients and feeding the feed to the livestock.46. The feed of claim 43, wherein the ration data comprises custom feeddata representative of a combination of amounts of the feed ingredients.47. The feed of claim 46, wherein the ration data further comprises costdata representative of a cost associated with the custom feed data. 48.The feed of claim 46, wherein the ration data further comprises feedweight data representative of a feed weight associated with the customfeed data.
 49. The feed of claim 46, wherein the ration data furthercomprises performance data representative of a projected animalperformance associated with the custom feed data.
 50. A food productfrom an animal feed a customized feed, the food product produced by aprocess comprising: storing animal data representative of thecharacteristics of the animal; storing first feed data representative ofthe feed ingredients located at a first location; storing second feeddata representative of the feed ingredients located at a secondlocation; storing evaluation data representative of at least oneevaluation criteria; generating profile data representative of anutrient profile for the animal based upon the animal data; generatingration data representative of a combination of ingredients from thefirst and second locations, the ration data being generated based uponthe profile data, the first and second feed data and the evaluationdata; mixing the combination of ingredients to produce the customizedfeed; feeding the customized feed to the animal; and processing theanimal to generate said food product.
 51. The process of claim 50,wherein the nutrient profile data is representative of at least twonutrient components, the process further comprising the step ofgenerating a set of ration data based upon variation data representativeof a range for the nutrient components of the nutrient profile.
 52. Afood product from an animal feed a customized feed, the food productproduced by a process comprising: storing animal data representative ofthe characteristics of the animal; storing feed data representative ofthe feed ingredients located at at least one location; storingevaluation data representative of at least two evaluation criteria;generating profile data representative of a nutrient profile for theanimal based upon the animal data; generating ration data representativeof a combination of ingredients from the first and second locations, theration data being generated based upon the profile data, the first andsecond feed data and the evaluation data; mixing the combination ofingredients to produce the customized feed; feeding the customized feedto the animal; and processing the animal to generate said food product.53. The process of claim 52, wherein the nutrient profile data isrepresentative of at least two nutrient components, the process furthercomprising the step of generating a set of ration data based uponvariation data representative of a range for the nutrient components ofthe nutrient profile.